Argo Merchant

Argo Merchant

Date: 1976-Dec-15

Location: 29 miles southeast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

Info: The Argo Merchant ran aground 29 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. High winds and 10 foot seas contributed to the accident. When the Argo Merchant requested permission to dump cargo in an effort to control the ship, permission was denied. As the weather worsened the next day, the crew was evacuated and 2 days later, the vessel began to buckle, breaking apart two days later. Currents carried the spilled oil away from the shorelines and beaches of Nantucket.

Products of concern: No. 6 Fuel Oil, cutter stock
Amount spilled (approximate): 1,510,000 gallons

Pic: Argo Merchant on Nantucket Shoals
Photo by Elaine Chan, NOAA

Latitude (approximate): 41° 2.00' North
Longitude (approximate): 69° 27.00' West

Ref: http://www.incidentnews.gov/incident/6231/